Skip Target—In Stores & Online—This Summer

American Family Association Urges Shoppers to Choose Another Store for Memorial Day Needs, As Retailer Remains Committed to Dangerous and Misguided Bathroom Policy

TUPELO, Miss.—The unofficial start of summer kicks off Monday on Memorial Day, and that means runs to the store for everything from sunscreen and swimsuits to lemonade and lawn chairs.

But for all those summer needs, the American Family Association (AFA,www.afa.net) is urging shoppers to pick a store other than Target, which is still committed to its dangerous and misguided bathroom and fitting room policy.

Just a few days ago, AFA President Tim Wildmon hand-delivered another 500,000 #BoycottTarget pledge signatures to Target headquarters in Minneapolis, after which AFA leadership briefly met with Target executives about the retailer’s dangerous and misguided restroom and fitting room policy that puts women and children at risk.

“We appreciate Target leadership taking the time to receive these half-million signatures from those concerned about families who are put at risk by a policy that allows men in women’s restrooms and fitting rooms,” Wildmon said. “But executives gave us no reason to believe they have any plans whatsoever to abandon this policy and keep women and children safe. So as summer—and one of the busiest shopping seasons—begins, AFA is asking shoppers to perhaps drive a few miles farther to another store for their summer needs. After a dismal year financially, Target must realize that this is not a blip on the radar screen, but a trend that will continue as long as the retailer chooses to alienate families.”

Last spring, AFA delivered the first 1 million signatures to Target leaders, who politely but passively listened to AFA’s concerns over the policy. The 12 months since the policy announcement—and since #BoycottTarget began—have seen falling revenues and plummeting stock prices for the corporation.

After AFA’s delivery of the first million signatures last year, Target stated it would add single-stall restrooms in stores not already equipped with them, but has otherwise not altered the policy.

“Just as important,” Wildmon added, “we remind shoppers to steer clear from shopping online at Target as well. Clicking through purchases may seem ‘safer’ than entering stores with dangerous bathroom policies, but shopping online still drives revenue to Target. And Target’s financial numbers have shown that the families who have chosen to shop elsewhere—both in-store and online—are making a huge difference.”

AFA is urging those who want to join the 1.5 million who have already signed the #BoycottTarget pledge to take action in several ways:

“As AFA has stated many times,” Wildmon concluded, “our worries do not stem from fear of the transgender community, but rather, from both the real and potential threat that predators and voyeurs would take advantage of the Target bathroom policy to harm women and children—and there are plenty of incidents to show that they have.”